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Shabbat Shalom January 4, 2013

What gifts will this New Year of 2013 bring us…? Wiser Gun Control Restrictions, Compromising Politicians, Peace Treaties, More Attention to Mental Health, Easier and Quality Access to Health Care, More Concern for our Environment, Continued Financial Strength. I would be thrilled if any of these issues were enhanced within the next 12 months.

Speaking of Mental Health, Gun Control, Financial Strength and Peace Treaties, here is a sad statistic that is affected by all of them. In 2012 there were more soldier suicides than war zone fatalities. Our soldiers deserve more resources and attention to help combat this troubling phenomenon. Let’s hope 2013 brings a reversal to this unacceptable trend.

Yes, there was FINALLY a DC deal to avoid a Financial Calamity (retiring the other overused FC phrase) yet Congressman Boehner (from Ohio, safely protected from Superstorm Sandy) sent his colleagues home before voting on the aid package for NY/NJ Sandy victims. Many of these victims STILL have no power or safe living conditions. Two months after the storm is WAY too long to wait for assistance.

Due to the fact that massive amounts of water bottles are floating in our oceans and resting in our landfills, Concord, Mass has just passed our nation’s first ever water bottle ban that makes it a $50 fine to sell 16oz (or smaller) bottles of water. Who will be next?

I’m sure any vessel of water would be greatly appreciated in Death Valley as it is (now) officially the site of the hottest recorded temperature (134 degrees recorded in 1913) since the previous Libyan record (136.4 degrees in 1922) was recently disqualified after researchers determined it was a faulty reading.

Our family adventure to Tucson (hiking, mountain biking, tennis and horseback riding) and Eugene (eating, drinking and wine tours) was wonderful. Here are some photos as proof:

Our Family Their Family

And our New Years Eve/Hannan’s Birthday Celebration was a blast, thanks to those who helped us celebrate.

Last supper of 2012 My Tennis Buddies

Wishing you and your loved ones a Sweet and Peaceful Shabbat Shalom,

Lisa

P.S. Happy 20th birthday dear son, Mataan.

SOAP BOX

Condolences to the Groner family and our Shaarey Zedek family on the passing of our beloved and respected Rabbi Irwin Groner who dedicated his life to our community for 53 years. He will be greatly missed.

While on our family trip to Eugene, Oregon, we attended Shabbat services at Temple Beth Israel. The last reading of the service was this poem by Judy Chicago:

And then all that has divided us will mergeAnd then compassion will be wedded to powerAnd then softness will come to a world that is harsh and unkindAnd then both men and women will be gentleAnd then both women and men will be strongAnd then no person will be subject to another’s willAnd then all will be rich and free and variedAnd then the greed of some will give way to the needs of manyAnd then all will share equally in the Earth’s abundanceAnd then all will care for the sick and the weak and the oldAnd then all will nourish the youngAnd then will cherish life’s creaturesAnd then all will live in harmony with one another and the EarthAnd then everywhere will be called Eden once again.